Police see spike in vehicle break-ins

Published: Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Thieves broke into Joe Thomas' 1998 Subaru on North Edenburg Street early Saturday, rummaged through his glove box and perhaps took some spare change out of his ashtray. But it could have been a lot worse, the 71-year-old retiree said.

“My wife's car, which was parked right behind mine, had several thousand dollars worth of Christmas presents in the trunk,” Thomas said. “If they'd gotten into it, they would've stolen my daughter's and granddaughter's Christmas.”

In all, four vehicles on Edenburg Street were broken into Saturday, according to the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, along with two others on Lyndhurst Drive and Brookside Camp Road.

The six break-ins Saturday are part of a rash of larcenies the sheriff's office has been dealing with since last summer, when at least 75 vehicle break-ins occurred between June 1 and July 25.

“We've had an increase all throughout this year,” said Capt. Frank Stout, who added the majority of vehicle break-ins appear to be by “opportunists” looking for quick cash with which to buy drugs.

In Saturday's incidents, Stout said, the thieves took spare change from cars but left behind handguns and electronics. “We're having people break in for less than a dollar in a change cup,” he said.

About 80-85 percent of county crime — including most break-ins — can be linked to drugs, Stout said, particularly abuse of prescription drugs and methamphetamine.

“Once we arrest these guys, it's evident from the condition of their bodies,” Stout said. “You can look at the quality of their teeth, the needle marks on their arms. It's pretty easy to tie it to drug abuse.”

The sheriff's office has increased patrols in residential areas most plagued by vehicle break-ins, Stout said. But he added it's “difficult to catch somebody on a smash-and-grab. Unless they get cut and leave some blood at the scene, most times there's no evidence left behind.”

Stout said the areas being hit by thieves are not “traditionally areas with high rates of crime.” Criminals seem to be targeting neighborhoods because there are a lot of vehicles to hit in a short period of time.

Vehicle owners can reduce their chances of being victimized by following some simple tips, Stout said:

° Lock your vehicles. Most of the recent vehicle break-ins have involved unlocked cars or trucks. If you have a car alarm, activate it every time you leave your vehicle.

° Park your vehicle in a well-lit area, if possible, and not on isolated side streets or the dark end of a parking lot. “If you've got a porch light or a street light nearby, that's a deterrent,” Stout said.

° Remove any valuables from the passenger compartment, where they are visible from the outside. “Anything of value – iPads, cellphones, guns, laptops, sunglasses — don't leave it in your car,” Stout said.

° If you have to leave something in your car, put it in your trunk before you arrive at your destination. Stout said putting in items in your trunk while in a parking spot can tip off thieves to the location of valuables.

° If you use a GPS unit, always wipe the suction cup ring off your windshield and place the charging cord out of sight. Stout said those are a “dead give-away to a thief that a GPS is in the car and even if you take it with you, a thief will smash your window to find out; it costs them nothing.”

After Saturday's rash of break-ins, Thomas said he's going to install a security system on his home to supplement his 100-pound Siberian husky, Keira. Even though the thieves didn't make off with much, the larceny from his carport rattled him.

“I don't like it, because it seems like they've interrupted my life,” Thomas said. “I have no privacy now.”

<p>Thieves broke into Joe Thomas' 1998 Subaru on North Edenburg Street early Saturday, rummaged through his glove box and perhaps took some spare change out of his ashtray. But it could have been a lot worse, the 71-year-old retiree said.</p><p>“My wife's car, which was parked right behind mine, had several thousand dollars worth of Christmas presents in the trunk,” Thomas said. “If they'd gotten into it, they would've stolen my daughter's and granddaughter's Christmas.”</p><p>In all, four vehicles on Edenburg Street were broken into Saturday, according to the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, along with two others on Lyndhurst Drive and Brookside Camp Road. </p><p>The six break-ins Saturday are part of a rash of larcenies the sheriff's office has been dealing with since last summer, when at least 75 vehicle break-ins occurred between June 1 and July 25. </p><p>“We've had an increase all throughout this year,” said Capt. Frank Stout, who added the majority of vehicle break-ins appear to be by “opportunists” looking for quick cash with which to buy drugs. </p><p>In Saturday's incidents, Stout said, the thieves took spare change from cars but left behind handguns and electronics. “We're having people break in for less than a dollar in a change cup,” he said.</p><p>About 80-85 percent of county crime — including most break-ins — can be linked to drugs, Stout said, particularly abuse of prescription drugs and methamphetamine.</p><p>“Once we arrest these guys, it's evident from the condition of their bodies,” Stout said. “You can look at the quality of their teeth, the needle marks on their arms. It's pretty easy to tie it to drug abuse.”</p><p>The sheriff's office has increased patrols in residential areas most plagued by vehicle break-ins, Stout said. But he added it's “difficult to catch somebody on a smash-and-grab. Unless they get cut and leave some blood at the scene, most times there's no evidence left behind.”</p><p>Stout said the areas being hit by thieves are not “traditionally areas with high rates of crime.” Criminals seem to be targeting neighborhoods because there are a lot of vehicles to hit in a short period of time.</p><p>Vehicle owners can reduce their chances of being victimized by following some simple tips, Stout said:</p><p>° Lock your vehicles. Most of the recent vehicle break-ins have involved unlocked cars or trucks. If you have a car alarm, activate it every time you leave your vehicle.</p><p>° Park your vehicle in a well-lit area, if possible, and not on isolated side streets or the dark end of a parking lot. “If you've got a porch light or a street light nearby, that's a deterrent,” Stout said. </p><p>° Remove any valuables from the passenger compartment, where they are visible from the outside. “Anything of value – iPads, cellphones, guns, laptops, sunglasses — don't leave it in your car,” Stout said. </p><p>° If you have to leave something in your car, put it in your trunk before you arrive at your destination. Stout said putting in items in your trunk while in a parking spot can tip off thieves to the location of valuables.</p><p>° If you use a GPS unit, always wipe the suction cup ring off your windshield and place the charging cord out of sight. Stout said those are a “dead give-away to a thief that a GPS is in the car and even if you take it with you, a thief will smash your window to find out; it costs them nothing.”</p><p>After Saturday's rash of break-ins, Thomas said he's going to install a security system on his home to supplement his 100-pound Siberian husky, Keira. Even though the thieves didn't make off with much, the larceny from his carport rattled him.</p><p>“I don't like it, because it seems like they've interrupted my life,” Thomas said. “I have no privacy now.”</p><p>Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com.</p>